Master the CompTIA-specified objective for the "Media and Topologies" and "Protocols and Standards" sections of the Network+ certification exam: identify the purpose, features, and functions of a wide variety of network components.

A wide range of devices are used in modern networking. As a Network+ certified
technician, you will need to have a good understanding of commonly used devices.

Given an example, identify a Media Access Control (MAC) address.

MAC addresses are the means by which systems communicate at a base level.
As a network administrator, you will need to understand the purpose, function,
and expression of MAC addresses.

Outline

Introduction

Hubs

Switches

Switching Methods

Working with Hubs and Switches

Hub and Switch Ports

Cables Connecting Hubs and Switches

Hub and Switch Indicator Lights

Rack Mount, Stackable, and Freestanding Devices

Managed Hubs and Switches

Bridges

Bridge Implementation Considerations

Types of Bridges

Routers

Routable Protocols and Routing Protocols

Routable Protocols

Routing Protocols

Dedicated Hardware Versus Server-Based Routers

Gateways

CSUs/DSUs

Wireless Access Point (WAPs)

Modems

Modem Connection Speeds

Network Cards (NICs)

Types of Network Interfaces

Installing Network Cards

ISDN Terminal Adapters

System Area Network Cards

Network Devices Summary

Identifying MAC Addresses

Chapter Summary

Apply Your Knowledge

Study Strategies

Read the objectives at the beginning of the chapter.

Study the information in this chapter, paying special attention to the
tables, which summarize key information.

Review the objectives again.

Answer the exam questions at the end of the chapter and check your results.

Use the ExamGear test on the CD-ROM that accompanies this book to answer
additional exam questions concerning this material.

Review the notes, tips, and exam tips in this chapter. Make sure you
understand the information in the exam tips. If you don't understand
the topic referenced in an exam tip, refer to the information in the chapter
text and then read the exam tip again.

Introduction

So far this book has examined topologies, media access methods, networking
standards, and cable types and connectors. To complete our examination of
networking on a physical level, this chapter looks at the network devices that
are used to create networks.

Identify the purpose, features, and functions of the following network
components:

Each of these devices fulfills a specific role in a network; however, only
the largest and most complex environments use all of them. We'll begin
our discussion of networking devices with perhaps the most simple and common
network device used today: the hub.

Repeaters

Traditionally, any discussion of networking components would
include repeaters, but today repeaters are a little outdated. Repeaters were
once used to increase the usable length of the cable, and they were most
commonly associated with co-axial network configurations. Because coaxial
networks have now fallen out of favor, and because the functionality of
repeaters has been built in to other devices, such as hubs and switches,
repeaters are rarely used. For this reason, CompTIA has elected to leave them
out of the required knowledge for the Network+ exam.